A guide for dealing with the fact you just suck

[dazza1008]

Quick comments are anonymous... I haven't received many comments with rudeness where people are brave enough to leave their name (or it just gets deleted by mods before I see it XD)

If you ask me, there's no point. There's no way to prove your identity there -- anyone else could just as easily leave a QC and sign it with your name.

Thanks... to be clearer with what I meant for the second part, I meant in response to a video announcement on the forum. And I never thought of the possibility of forgery! XD

[dazza1008]

being really rude with comments always seemed pretty pointless and dumb to me
Im always (well most of the time ) mind my manners whenever i actaully do comments
Some people around here just don't have any home training
Damn heathens...

Ha ha, that's funny, the way you put it XD

[Knowname]

As for why you haven't gotten more than you have, it is possible that you're so bad at making videos that the master assholes don't even bother downloading your stuff anymore. Just tossing an alternate suggestion out there...

now is that good or bad -_- even my recent rants about this issue has caused my videos to seem to be rather shunned by the usual announcement hoars, is that a good or a bad thing?? My star ratings haven't seem to gone down, they just choose to keep quiet.

To answer BOTH questions, it's a good thing and I hope it continues and even spreads. QCs really IS the worst idea since the hydrogen fueled car. I'm not saying keep quiet. Just keep your sarcasm to yourself. I'm a TERRIBLY sarcastic bastard, but I keep my sarcasm to only relating to me. You also do this (mostly) else, like you say, it's pointless.

I learned long ago it's a waste of time giving constructive criticism to someone unless they specifically asked for it.

I consider it a waste of time period (usually the person your talking to a- won't accept it b- has heard it before c- has already caught it d- has already closed the book on it ad infinium) it's just a waste of time, I just leave my op and get out. Even if they ask for it, it's POINTLESS.

... usually my op says 'go ask someone else' anyway...

I look back at them today and say...wow I must have a new set of eyes.

this has nothing to do with that quote, but this is too all the ppl that think 'he doesn't make good videos so he must not know what he's talking about'. Go suck it, K??? I CAN criticize like that because I've made those same MISTAKES. What I do not have a right to do is give constructive criticism because I have not AVOIDED those mistakes.

So NO! I am not hypocritical because I lash out at people because of excessive lip flap when I am just as bad myself. I am SYMPATHETIC. I WOULD be hypocritical if I offered constructive criticism however. So I don't.

[JaddziaDax]

then again theres sometimes a redundancy factor that comes in.... maybe some people don't clarify because they figure you have heard it already, so there is no point into continuing to rub your nose in something you should already know... or they are just too lazy to type it out again for you.

[Arigatomina]

But if I say, "This would be better if you cut out the lip flap." Is that criticism or just a suggestion? Of course it's also my opinion. So is this post. So take it or leave it, like it or lump it, flame it, flush it, or just ignore it. That's your choice!

Nice.

~

It's funny that this topic came up recently on a different forum. A writer's section of the forum. Most of the fanfic writers were speaking up in defense of the fragile few who would shatter into a dozen emo pieces if readers suddenly started giving feedback instead of blank praise. They'd be caught in the crossfire between the readers wishing to improve the quality of fanfiction in general and the writers wishing for positive *and* negative feedback on their work. I was on the side of the "if they're that fragile, better they get used to criticism in an impersonal way than to have it firsthand from someone far less polite later." It was a thread where people shared the awful things they'd encountered in fanfiction (no names given, link free) and the bleeding hearts worried that the thread might upset newbies who'd take it personally if they realized things they'd done were being trashed in the thread as "awful". Sheltering fragile writers is as bad as ego stroking arrogant writers. If you really worry that much about their feelings, warn them nicely before a cynic comes by and rips them to shreds.

[devil's advocate]

Having read this article reiterating the same thing I'd been arguing before, and seeing how the org takes this as "everyone must accept criticism and apply it appropriately or else they're ruining the hobby", I think I changed my mind. Notice the difference between writing and editing a video. Writing has rules that you are taught. Telling someone to put a period at the end of their sentences and capitalize the first letter (punctuation) cannot be compared to telling an editor to always use a certain format/resolution/file size. Telling a writer to use - but not abuse - commas cannot be compared to telling an editor to use - but not abuse - effects. Why? Because we have no cardinal rules for editing a video. It's all opinion. Every single bit of it. Even telling someone to cut out subtitles can get you a "but my friends like the subtitles because that helps them know what's going on in the anime, since they've never seen the anime" rebuttal. And you can't argue with that. Your opinion might be supported by more people than his, but it's still an opinion.

Writing is a publicly accepted field of study for which we have classes and degrees and more rules that have been forgotten and discarded than most people will ever learn in their lifetime, let alone use. You can't argue with grammar rules. You can argue whether they're useful in a unique situation, but you can't deny that the rules exist and you are intentionally breaking them.

AMV editors have no rule book. We have no teachers telling us these are the books to study if we want to be good editors. All we have is a community where whoever talks the loudest, has the most community support, or has the biggest ego, decides what is right and what is wrong and who should speak and who should listen. What are the teacher's credentials? It's not a rule book. It's the collective opinion of the vocal few. No one is obligated to give that opinion any more attention than what you'd give a reader who says your characters are OOC.

Note: Out of character is a matter of opinion. I disagree with that article on this point - canon is interpreted by the viewer when it comes to things like a character's personality and potential reactions in an unprecedented (and unexplored in the canon) situation. I'd no more listen to someone's opinion on characterization than I would to an amv reviewer's opinion on the pairing. That's has nothing to do with constructive criticism.

[/devil's advocate]

When you're reading that article and using it to justify the forum's "everyone must be here to improve" mindset, don't forget to read this part of the article. It's very applicable:

Authors should use constructive criticism to examine their work from a new perspective, and gauge for themselves if the feedback has merit and the work should be changed.

Just because the feedback you give is constructive doesn't mean it has merit to the receiver. That doesn't mean he should or will apply that criticism. In the end it's still up to the editor whether or not your opinion - your criticism - is worth anything. That's what this article says.

Now...when you're out to get noobs to accept and apply your criticism do you really want to link them to an article that says "decide for yourself if the feedback has merit"? Sort of defeats the purpose, right? Because if they weren't already deciding for themselves if your advice has merit - and deciding that it doesn't - there'd be no need to link them to the article in the first place. That article is great for persuading those "shelter the fragile members" people and the "do it my way or I'll flame you" people. It's not so good at persuading the "I like my way and won't change it just because you tell me to unless you're my boss or my professor and I have no other choice" people.

And don't forget that most noobs who wouldn't know a reliable source on the org from a big headed ass who happens to type in complete sentences and multi-syllable words. They're new. Tell them to accept anything that sounds "constructive" and you'll have them pulling in a dozen directions at once as everyone tells them something different, passing it off as "the right way to do it according to the Amv Rulebook". This ain't grammar. There is no right way. There isn't even a Rule Book. Our own "how to edit" guides each tell a different "right way" to edit.

Those who really want to improve the overall quality of the hobby need to first accept that their opinion is an opinion. Then maybe we'll get somewhere. Half the problem with the org is that everyone wants to pass his opinion off as The Correct The Only. No such thing. Recalcitrant people are much more likely to listen to your opinion if you stop trying to pass it off as truth.

[Sephiroth]

Those who really want to improve the overall quality of the hobby need to first accept that their opinion is an opinion. Then maybe we'll get somewhere. Half the problem with the org is that everyone wants to pass his opinion off as The Correct The Only. No such thing. Recalcitrant people are much more likely to listen to your opinion if you stop trying to pass it off as truth.

Hence why i loath most of the posts here. People are more interested in their ego then the work. The org is like the movie the TV set. "Does the brother have to commit suicide?" might as well be "Does this need to match the beat more.". And why do i bring this example up because there is a difference between 'good' and 'ratings getting'. Most are obsessed over NUMBERS just numbers which is why the top 10 is such a creative and creative-less area.

Been here since the beginning and whats changed? NOTHING.

[Rapture**]

being really rude with comments always seemed pretty pointless and dumb to me
Im always (well most of the time ) mind my manners whenever i actaully do comments
Some people around here just don't have any home training
Damn heathens...

If someone will tell you like : "You know,your video was pretty good,and I liked it,but then again,you could increase your video quality,or at least use abit more synch,but not necessary,since it's pretty good right now." What will you do then? Nothing,since filtering in your head will change it to something like this "You know,your video was pretty good,and I liked it.".

When I like the video,I'm leaving it nice comments,but when I don't like it,I'm not being rude,I'm just doing the right thing damn it!

I'm not using adorning comments that will make it look as if the video needs no major changes,if you want pretty comments,well,then just don't post the fucking video. If you'll always try to being nice,then the one receiving your comments will just start to accept them as if his work is superb and needs no improvement. It's not like we're being rude,just that it's a straight feedback. Being serious doesn't mean that one is being rude. If you receive a number of comments like "Your video sucks,you need to do lots of improvement!",well then pardon me,but your video does suck. It's not flaming,nor it's being rude,just that it's a straight comment to you.

It's just that there are people who say : "Your video sucks!" and there are people who are not so lazy,to give a bit more detailed feedback : "Your video needs a lot of improvement,escpecially there,and in that part too,read the guides and they'll help you to improve a bit." . I always leave my nickname after QCs,just so people whom I leave them,could contact me just in case they have any more questions.

[godix]

Writing has rules that you are taught. Telling someone to put a period at the end of their sentences and capitalize the first letter (punctuation) cannot be compared to telling an editor to always use a certain format/resolution/file size. Telling a writer to use - but not abuse - commas cannot be compared to telling an editor to use - but not abuse - effects. Why? Because we have no cardinal rules for editing a video.

Actually there are some cardinal rules, we just call them guidelines. Don't use fansubs. Don't use mp3 audio. Don't show subtitles or TV watermarks. Effects should enhance the video not be the video. Beat/lyric/mood sync are good things. Lipsync is a humor thing don't do it in serious videos. I will grant that AMV rules tend to be a lot less specific or hardcoded into peoples minds because AMV making hasn't been around for thousands of years for those rules to build up like writing has. Also, as with writing, none of these rules are so inviolable they can never be violated at all. E. E. Cummings didn't need capitalization and some amv creators can do effects for effects sake videos. But for a newbie to either writing or amvs, it's a good idea to follow the rules until they understand why and how to violate them to good effect.

It's all opinion. Every single bit of it.

For that matter so are the rules in writing. It's an opinion that LOL, spelling You as U, and other netspeak atrocities are bad english. The universe doesn't impose grammar rules on us, they're just a consensus opinion and writing rules will change as opinions change. Hell, it's already happened. These days it's considered a bad thing to write a brief description of the characters before starting a story but in Dickens time it was common practice.

Now...when you're out to get noobs to accept and apply your criticism do you really want to link them to an article that says "decide for yourself if the feedback has merit"?

Actually yes. I'd kinda wonder about someone if I gave someone a beta and they made every single change I suggested without thinking about it. Those who get pissy at constructive criticism and those who are so into validation through others that they blindly follow whatever they're told are equally stupid, although in different ways.

And don't forget that most noobs who wouldn't know a reliable source on the org from a big headed ass who happens to type in complete sentences and multi-syllable words.

I can only hope so otherwise this thread would be rejected because of who made it.

Those who really want to improve the overall quality of the hobby need to first accept that their opinion is an opinion. Then maybe we'll get somewhere. Half the problem with the org is that everyone wants to pass his opinion off as The Correct The Only. No such thing. Recalcitrant people are much more likely to listen to your opinion if you stop trying to pass it off as truth.

Who said anything about improving the hobby? I just got tired of the 'omg someone didn't give me tons of praise' drama that pops up every now and then. Fuck the hobby. Not even I'm egotistical enough to think my opinions can influence the entire hobby.

[Knowname]

Been here since the beginning and whats changed? NOTHING.

really?? I don't remember all of these Koop-ites and Decoy deciples back in the old forum (like before 2001)... coarse I was simply a noob back then so maybe I don't remember and got caught up in the slew. It's not that Koop or Decoy are all that bad really, it's just the sheep that think WotB or Euphoria are the only amvs that were, it's just pathetic! We didn't have anything like that back than <ignores>.

No, but even Kevin Caldwell didn't have a bunch of sheep that tried to make every video like his. Maybe it's just because the hobby has grown, maybe it's the nature of the beast, but.... I dunno, don't bug me with this no more *_*

I'd kinda wonder about someone if I gave someone a beta and they made every single change I suggested without thinking about it. Those who get pissy at constructive criticism and those who are so into validation through others that they blindly follow whatever they're told are equally stupid, although in different ways.

good ole god9, says everybody's stupid and just leaves.

No but on the topic of writing, I write with a TON of elipses and smiley faces ^_^ I am write (PUN!), that is all.

[NS]

Godix has some competition.. this God9 fellow is comin' for your rep, dawg.